OBJECTIVE To validate the use of photographic burn wound assessment in evaluation of burn size and wound characteristics. METHODS Feasibility study of agreement between methods of measurement of burn size and characteristics, in patients admitted to the burn unit at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH), Malawi, over two months in 2011. Burn wounds were photographed and assessed clinically, concurren...

ed by: African Index Medicus (WHO), CAB Abstracts, Index Copernicus, Global Health Abstracts, Asian Science Index, Index Veterinarius, Bioline International , African Journals online Full-text available at http://www.ajbrui.com http://www.bioline.br/md http://www.ajol.com

Introduction. Stump cholecystitis is a recognised condition in which a large gallbladder remnant becomes inflamed after subtotal cholecystectomy. When this occurs, a completion cholecystectomy is indicated. Traditionally, these patients were subjected to open surgery because the laparoscopic approach was anticipated to be technically difficult. We present a case of completion cholecystectomy us...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility and outcome of home-based rehabilitation of severely malnourished children. DESIGN Prospective and observational. SETTING Rehabilitation at home (16 weeks) following initial assessment or/and stabilization at hospital. PARTICIPANTS Thirty-four severely malnourished (weight for length < 70% of WHO reference) children between the ages of 6 months to 5 y...

BACKGROUND In resource poor settings where automated hematology analyzers are not available, the Cyanmethemoglobin method is often used. This method though cheaper, takes more time. In blood donations, the semi-quantitative gravimetric copper sulfate method which is very easy and inexpensive may be used but does not provide an acceptable degree of accuracy. The HemoCue® hemoglobin photometer ha...

BACKGROUND The reality of finite resources has a real-world impact on a patient's ability to receive life-saving care in resource-poor settings. Blood for transfusion is an example of a scarce resource. Very few studies have looked at predictors of survival in patients requiring massive transfusion. We used data from a rural hospital in Kenya to develop a prediction model of survival among pati...

INTRODUCTION Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease, causing various physical disabilities and deformities. Even today, stigma leads to late detection of new cases. Household contacts are considered a primary focus for the spread of infection. AIM AND OBJECTIVE To find new cases among household contacts of leprosy patients by providing a family motivation card (FMC) to each leprosy patient, ...

BACKGROUND There are hardly any data about the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of ICU-associated A.baumannii colonisation/infection in HIV-infected and uninfected persons from resource-poor settings like Africa. METHODS We reviewed the case records of patients with A.baumannii colonisation/infection admitted into the adult respiratory and surgical ICUs in Cape Town, South Africa, from Ja...

BACKGROUND Teaching Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) is becoming a priority in the healthcare process. For undergraduates, it has been proved that integrating multiple strategies in teaching EBM yields better results than a single, short-duration strategy. However, there is a lack of evidence on applying EBM educational interventions in developing countries. In this study, we aim to evaluate the e...

Hydrocele in adults is a collection of peritesticular fluid between the parietal and visceral layers of the tunica vaginalis testis. An endemic disease in Africa, its cause is either idiopathic or a reaction to filariasis. In the absence of treatment, its volume increases spontaneously. The onset of symptoms justifies treatment. In tropical zones, surgery is the most effective treatment. The te...